Parking meter

ABSTRACT

A parking meter assembly (10) including a base (11) that is to be fixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the curb that which a car is to be parked. The assembly (10) also includes a parking meter (13) having a front face (17) that includes a coin slot (25) a card slot (20) and a control panel (21). The parking meter (13) further includes a rear face (27) having a window aperture (28) that provides for the transmission of light to a solar panel (29) behind the aperture (28).

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/465,165, field on Mar. 21, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.application. Ser. No. 14/698,806, filed Apr. 28, 2015, now issued asU.S. Pat. No. 9,685,027 on Jun. 20, 2017, which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 14/059,260, filed Oct. 21, 2013, which is acontinuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/973,109, filedDec. 20, 2010, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,687 on Nov. 26, 2013,which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/072,524, filedFeb. 27, 2008, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,310 on Dec. 21, 2010,which claims priority to Australian Patent Application 2007900999, filedFeb. 27, 2007. The disclosures of these applications are herebyincorporated by reference, as if set forth in full in this document, forall purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to parking meters and more particularly toelectrically powered parking meters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parking meters initially were coin operated. They were known to consistof a module to be fixed to a post having a lower end embedded in aground surface typically adjacent a kerb adjacent which vehicles were tobe parked. The parking meters were operated by inserting a coin and thenturning a knob to activate a “clock” mechanism. When a certain periodhad expired, the parking meter would display a sign indicating theparking period had expired.

The above mentioned parking meters had a number of disadvantagesincluding complexity of the working mechanisms, unreliability in respectof coins jamming and not being well adapted to provide a range ofparking times and costs in respect thereof. A still further disadvantageis that they were restricted to coin operation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a parking meter including:

a coin sensor;

a card reader;

an electronic device electrically connected to the sensor and reader soas to receive information electronically therefrom, a display to provideinformation visually, a telephone connection to provide receivinginformation in respect of a card used in respect of said card reader,and connections for at least one rechargeable battery to power thereader, sensor and device; and

a solar cell operatively associated with said connections to charge saidbattery;

a body having;

a front face having a coin slot into which coins are inserted fordelivery to the sensor and then the coin storage facility;

a card slot into which a card is inserted to be read by said reader, anda rear face providing a window via which said solar cell is exposed tolight, and providing visual access to said display.

Preferably, said meter includes an indicator to provide an indicationwhether a parking period has expired.

Preferably, said indicator is adjacent or at said rear face.

Preferably, said meter is adapted to be fixed to a post fixed to aground surface, with said body including a set of panels to be fixedrelative to said post, and a cover panel pivotally attached to the panelset for pivoting movement about a generally horizontal axis between aclosed position and an open position.

Preferably, said meter includes controls at said front face via which auser can operate the parking meter.

Preferably, said coin sensor, said card reader, said device and saidcontrol panel are a module removable as an assembly from within saidbody.

Preferably, said module includes a body, and said coin sensor is a coinvalidator unit removably located in said body.

Preferably, said telephone is a mobile (cellular) telephone.

Preferably, said front face and rear face converge upwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a parking meter assembly;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front isometric view of a parking meter employedin the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic rear isometric view of the parking meter of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front isometric view of the parking meter of FIG.2 with a top panel pivoted to an open position; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic rear isometric view of a module of the parkingmeter of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a parkingmeter assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a base 11 that would befixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the kerb atwhich a car is to be parked. Attached to the base and extending upwardlytherefrom is a post 12 to the upper end of which there is attached aparking meter 13. The parking meter 13 includes a lower skirt 14 that isto be fixed to the post 12, an intermediate panel set 15, and a coverpanel 16 pivotally mounted relative to the panel set 15. The cover panel16 and panel set 15 provide a front face 17 having front face portions18 and 19. The front face 17 includes a coin slot 25, a card slot 20 anda control panel 21. The control panel 21 includes a window 22, andbuttons 24 that are manipulated by a user to operate the parking meter13. The window 22 provides a user with means of viewing a screen 23 viawhich information is conveyed to the user. The information typicallywould include date, time and when the parking period is to expire andperhaps further information such as when the parking meter 13 isoperable, information in respect of card use and cost.

The cover panel 16 is pivotally attached to the panel set 15 by means ofa pivot 26 providing a generally horizontal pivot axis 45 that isgenerally normal to the post 12. The cover panel 16 is pivotally movablethrough an acute angle from the closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and2, to the open position shown in FIG. 4. In an alternative form, thepanel 16 may be slidably attached.

The rear of the parking meter 13 includes a rear face 27 as part of thecover panel 16. The rear face 27 includes a window aperture 28 thatreceives a panel that provides for the transmission of light to a solarpanel 29. The front face portion 18 and rear face 27 converge upwardlyso that they are both inclined by acute angles to the horizontal.

At or adjacent the rear face 27 is an indicator 30 that can be viewedeasily by a parking ranger moving past the meter 10, the indicator 30providing an indication in respect of whether a parking period hasexpired.

When mounted adjacent a kerb separating a footpath from a roadway, therear face 27 would face the adjacent roadway and the front face 17 awayfrom the roadway so that a user would be standing on the footpath andfacing their vehicle when operating the meter 13.

The panel set 15 and cover panel 16 provide a housing 31 within which amodule 32 is located. The module 32 includes an electronic device 33that incorporates the screen 23. The module 32 particularly includes acoin sensor 34 in the form of a coin validator 35. The coin validator 35is received within a slot 37 of the body 36 of the module 32. Typicallythe coin validator 35 would provide a passage 37 through which coinswould move to be “counted” and validated for the purposes of the coinvalidator 35 providing a signal in respect of whether appropriate coinshave been delivered to the slot 25. Accordingly, the passage 37 wouldcommunicate with the slot 25 so as to receive coins therefrom. Oncepassing through the coin validator 35, the coins are delivered to a coinreceptacle than can be cleared. The coin receptacle is located behindthe skirt 14 which preferably has a door to provide for access to thecoin receptacle. The coin validator 35 is provided as a unit and isremovable from the module 32, when the module 32 is removed from withinthe housing 31.

The module 32 is also provided with a light (LED) 38 and/or colour disk39 that are operated to provide an indication in respect of whether aparking period has expired. The light 38 and/or disk 39 are part of theindicator 30 and can be seen by the parking ranger. Typically the disk39 would be pivotally mounted and would be “flipped” to be black or red,the red indicating that a parking period has expired.

Located immediately behind the slot 20 is a card reader 40 that wouldread the magnetic strip (or other information providing device) on acredit or debit card.

The coin validator 35 and card reader 40 are electrically linked to thecontrol panel 21 to provide information therefor in respect of whetherpayment has been made.

Preferably, the device 33 would include a mobile (cellular) phone linkso that information may be conveyed and received in respect of a creditor debit card read by the card reader 40. The device 33 may also includea power supply (battery), an IR port and LED status indicators.

Preferably, the slot 20 is located in a plane that is inclined to thehorizontal by an acute angle so that the slot 20 slopes downwardly to aninclined surface 41 being part of the front face 17. The surface 41 isdownwardly facing so as to protect the slot 20 from water penetration.The surface 41 is also provided with a recess 42 enabling a user'sfingers to hold the card while “swiping” card through the slot 20.

A key operated lock 43 is located in a rear panel 44 of the panel set15, the lock 43 being operable to release the cover panel 16 whenappropriate key is used.

What is claimed is:
 1. A parking meter including: a coin sensor thatreceives coins for making payment; a card reader that reads a card formaking payment; an electronic device electrically connected to the coinsensor and card reader so as to receive information electronicallytherefrom, the electronic device having a screen to provide informationvisually, a communication connection to provide receiving information inrespect of a card used in respect of said card reader, and connectionsfor at least one rechargeable battery to power the card reader, coinsensor and electronic device; a solar cell operatively associated withsaid connections to charge said battery; a housing in which theelectronic device is located, the housing comprising an intermediatepanel set and a cover panel, wherein the cover panel is movably attachedto the intermediate panel set and is configured to be movable between aclosed position and an open position in which the electronic device isreceived into the housing; and a rear face comprising a surface of thecover panel and a surface of the intermediate panel set; wherein thecoin sensor and the card reader are electrically linked to provideinformation to the electronic device to provide information of whetherpayment has been made; wherein the screen of the electronic device isvisible through the window of the cover panel when the cover panel isattached to the intermediate panel.
 2. The parking meter of claim 1,wherein said meter includes an indicator to provide an indicationwhether a parking period has expired.
 3. The parking meter of claim 2,wherein said indicator is adjacent or at said rear face.
 4. The parkingmeter of claim 1, wherein said meter is adapted to be fixed to a postfixed to a ground surface, with said intermediate panel set including aset of panels to be fixed relative to said post, and the cover panel ispivotally attached to the intermediate panel set for pivoting movementabout a generally horizontal axis between a closed position and an openposition.
 5. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said coin sensor,said card reader, said electronic device and said screen are a moduleremovable as an assembly from within said housing.
 6. The parking meterof claim 5, wherein said module includes a body, and said coin sensor isa coin validator unit removably located in said body.
 7. The parkingmeter of claim 1, wherein said communication connection is a mobile(cellular) telephone connection.
 8. The parking meter of claim 1,wherein said front face and rear face converge upwardly.
 9. The parkingmeter of claim 1, wherein a front surface of the cover panel and a frontsurface of the intermediate panel set comprise a parking meter frontface, the front surface of the cover panel having a front window and aplurality of buttons that operate the parking meter upon manipulation bya user.
 10. The parking meter of claim 1, further including a windowaperture in the rear face via which said solar cell is exposed to light.11. A parking meter comprising: a housing comprising an intermediatepanel set and a cover panel, the cover panel being movably attached tothe intermediate panel set, wherein a rear surface of the cover paneland a rear surface of the intermediate panel set comprise a parkingmeter rear face; a module configured to be removably received by thehousing, the module comprising: (a) a coin sensor that receives coinsfor making payment, (b) a card reader that reads a card for makingpayment, and (c) an electronic device electrically connected to the coinsensor and the card reader so as to receive information electronicallytherefrom, the electronic device comprising: (i) a screen to provideinformation visually via a window in the cover panel when the coverpanel is attached to the intermediate panel set, (ii) a communicationsconnection to provide receiving information in respect of the cardreader, (iii) a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to providepower to the card reader, the coin sensor, and the electronic device,and (iv) a solar cell operatively coupled with the rechargeable batteryto charge the rechargeable battery, the solar cell configured to receivelight for charging; wherein the coin sensor and the card reader areelectrically linked to provide information to the electronic device toprovide information of whether payment has been made; and wherein thecover panel is configured to be movable between a closed position and anopen position in which the electronic device is received into thehousing.
 12. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein said card slotslopes downwardly to be accessible via the front face surface of theintermediate panel, and the front face surface of the intermediate panelis downwardly facing.
 13. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein thecoin sensor comprises a coin validator unit that is removably attachedto the module and includes the coin receptacle such that the coin sensorcommunicates with the coin slot of the parking meter front face whenattached to the module for receiving inserted coins.
 14. The parkingmeter of claim 11, wherein a front surface of the cover panel and afront surface of the intermediate panel set comprise a parking meterfront face, the front surface of the cover panel having a front windowand a plurality of buttons that operate the parking meter uponmanipulation by a user.
 15. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein therear face surface of the cover panel provides a rear window throughwhich the solar cell receives light for charging.